Tool, tool holder, method of driving the same, machine tool, and tool management system

• US 20010049325A1
• Filed: 05/30/2001
• Published: 12/06/2001
• Est. Priority Date: 05/31/2000
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Toshiba Kikai Kabushiki Kaisha (Shibaura Machine Co., Ltd.)
• Original Assignee: Toshiba Kikai Kabushiki Kaisha (Shibaura Machine Co., Ltd.)
• Inventors: Katoh, Koichi, Katoh, Yasunori
• Granted Patent: US 6,474,913 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 483/30
• CPC Class Codes: B23Q 1/0009 Energy-transferring means or control lines for movable machine parts; Control panels or boxes; Control parts control handles for driving or feeding mechanisms B23Q5/54
• CPC Class Codes: B23Q 5/048 Speed-changing devices
• CPC Class Codes: B23Q 5/10 driven essentially by electrical means
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 408/03 Processes
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 408/94 Tool-support
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 409/300896 with sensing of numerical information and regulation without mechanical connection between sensing means and regulated means [i.e., numerical control]
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 409/303752 Process
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 409/309296 Detachable or repositionable tool head
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 409/309408 with cutter holder
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 409/30952 with cutter holder
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 483/1733 Rotary spindle machine tool [e.g., milling machine, boring, machine, grinding machine, etc.]
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 483/1736 Tool having specific mounting or work treating feature

Abstract

A tool, attachable to a spindle of a machine tool and capable of changing independently a rotational speed of a cutting tool from that of the spindle, provided with a cutting tool for machining a workpiece, an electric motor for driving the machining tool, a generator for generating electric power to drive the electric motor by the rotation of the spindle, a tool holding part for rotatably holding the cutting tool, a casing for holding the electric motor, the generator, the tool attachment part, and the tool holding part, and a locking part for preventing rotation of the casing by engagement with a non-rotating part of the machine tool.

Claims

1. A tool attachable to a spindle of a machine tool comprising:

a machining tool for machining a workpiece;

an electric motor for driving said machining tool; and

a generator for generating electric power to drive said electric motor by the rotation of said spindle.

2. A tool as set forth in

claim 1

, wherein said generator and said electric motor change the rotational speed of said machining tool from the rotational speed of said spindle by a predetermined ratio determined based on a pole number of said generator and electric motor.

3. A tool as set forth in

claim 2

, wherein

said generator is an alternating current generator which supplies current with a frequency in accordance with the rotational speed of said spindle to said electric motor;

and

said electric motor is an induction motor which rotates at a rotational speed in accordance with said frequency.

4. A tool as set forth in

claim 3

, wherein

said generator is a three-phase synchronous generator;

and

said electric motor is a three-phase induction motor.

5. A tool as set forth in

claim 1

, further comprising:

a tool attachment part attachable to said spindle for transmitting the rotation of said spindle to said generator;

a tool holding part for rotatably holding said machining tool;

a casing for holding said electric motor, said generator, said tool attachment part, and said tool holding part; and

a locking part for preventing rotation of said casing by engagement with a non-rotating part of said machine tool.

6. A tool attachable to a spindle of a machine tool comprising:

a machining tool for machining a workpiece;

an electric motor for driving said machining tool;

a generator for generating electric power to drive said electric motor by the rotation of said spindle; and

a control means for controlling a supply of electric power generated by said generator to drive and control said machining tool.

7. A tool as set forth in

claim 6

, wherein said control means comprises:

a memory for storing a program for driving and controlling said machining tool;

a processor for performing said program; and

a driving circuit for supplying the electric power from said generator to said electric motor in respond to a control signal from said processor.

8. A tool as set forth in

claim 6

, further comprising

a rotation detecting means for detecting a rotational position and/or rotational speed of said electric motor;

wherein

said control means controls said electric motor based on the detected rotational position and/or the detected rotational speed.

9. A tool as set forth in

claim 6

, further comprising:

a rotation detecting means for detecting a rotational position and/or rotational speed of said electric motor; and

a rotation detecting means for detecting a rotational position and/or rotational speed of said spindle; and

said control means controls said electric motor based on the detected rotational position and/or rotational speed of both of said spindle and electric motor.

10. A tool as set forth in

claim 6

, further comprising:

a data input means for inputting various data required for controlling said electric motor to said controlling means from the outside.

11. A tool attachable to a spindle of a machine tool comprising:

a machining tool for machining a workpiece;

an electric motor for driving said machining tool;

a generator for generating electric power to drive said electric motor by the rotation of said spindle;

an electric power receiving part other than said electric motor for receiving supply of the electric power;

a secondary battery able to supply power to said electric power receiving part; and

a charging circuit for charging said secondary battery with part of the electric power generated by said generator.

12. A tool as set forth in

claim 11

, further comprising:

a processing circuit, operated by electric power supplied from said secondary battery, for processing data related to machining of the work by said machining tool.

13. A tool as set forth in

claim 11

further comprising

a transmitting and receiving circuit, operated by electric power supplied from said secondary battery, for performing at least one of transmission and reception of a wireless signal indicating information related to machining of a workpiece by said machining tool.

14. A tool attachable to a spindle of a machine tool comprising:

a machining tool for machining a workpiece;

an electric motor for driving said machining tool;

a generator for generating electric power to drive said electric motor by the rotation of said spindle;

a processing circuit for processing data related to machining of the workpiece by said machining tool; and

a transmitting and receiving circuit for performing at least one of transmission and reception of a wireless signal indicating information related to machining of a workpiece by said machining tool.

15. A tool holder attachable to a spindle of a machine tool for rotatably holding a machining tool for machining a workpiece, said tool holder comprising:

an electric motor for driving said machining tool and

a generator for generating electric power to drive said electric motor by the rotation of said spindle.

16. A tool holder as set forth in

claim 15

, further comprising:

a tool attachment part attachable to said spindle for transmitting the rotation of said spindle to said generator;

a tool holding part for rotatably holding said machining tool;

a casing for holding said electric motor, said generator, said tool attachment part, and said tool holding part;

a locking part for preventing rotation of said casing by engagement with a non-rotating part of said machine tool.

17. A machine tool comprising:

a machine tool body provided with a spindle,-a driving means for driving said spindle, and at least one control axis for changing a relative position between said spindle and a workpiece;

a control apparatus for controlling said driving means and said control axis in accordance with a machining program; and

a tool attachable to said spindle and provided with a machining tool for machining a workpiece, an electric motor for driving said machining tool, and a generator for generating electric power to drive said electric motor by the rotation of said spindle.

18. A machine tool as set forth in

claim 17

, further comprising an automatic tool changer for attaching said tool to said spindle and detaching said tool from said spindle.

19. A machine tool as set forth in

claim 17

, wherein said tool changes the rotational speed of said machining tool from the rotational speed of said spindle by a predetermined ratio determined based on pole numbers of said generator and said electric motor.

20. A method of driving a tool attachable to a spindle of a machine tool, the tool being provided with a machining tool for machining a workpiece, an electric motor for driving said machining tool, and a generator for generating electric power to drive said electric motor by the rotation of said spindle, comprising the steps of:

generating alternating current having a frequency in accordance with the rotational speed of said spindle;

driving said electric motor by the generated alternating current; and

controlling the rotational speed of said machining tool in accordance with the frequency of the alternating current.

21. A tool management system comprising:

a tool attachable to a spindle of a machine tool, the tool comprising;

a machining tool for machining a workpiece,

an electric motor for driving said machining tool,

a generator for generating electric power to drive said electric motor by the rotation of said spindle,

a processing circuit for processing data related to machining of the workpiece by said machining tool;

a transmitting and receiving circuit for performing at least one of transmission and reception of a wireless signal indicating information related to machining of a workpiece by said machining tool; and

a management apparatus for performing at least one of reception of data from said transmitting and receiving circuit and transmission of data to said receiving circuit and managing the data.